Stay Inspired
"Stay Inspired", that's
what it said on Eddie Zyne's hotel room key card.
He hadn't noticed it until his wife, Susan, pointed
it out after he played drums in one of the best shows
of his life. He had just performed two nights with
Todd Rundgren and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra
at the Coronado. The concert promoters, Doug and
Mel of RundgrenRadio.com, picked one city in the
United States that would see this amazing concert
that was only performed before in Amsterdam. This
time it included Jesse Gress on guitar. It had been
a goal of Eddie's to play with Todd ever since he
heard his first solo album, "Runt", and
this was better than he could have imagined.
Eddie began playing drums at the
age of twelve while attending seminary in Miami,
Florida. His mom, Alice, became his first and longest
supporter by driving him to the music store in Coral
Gables and letting him buy his first set of drums.
Eddie then converted the garage at his home in Coconut
Grove into a rehearsal studio. He didn't have any
formal musical training until he went to Miami-Dade
College and studied under Harold Harms. He didn't
know it at the time, but learning to read music and
forming a lifelong friendship with Harold would be
invaluable many years later. As it turned out, playing
with Todd Rundgren and the orchestra would require
everything Eddie learned from his college days and
even prompted a few phone calls to Harold to discuss
the drum charts. |
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Do
What You Want, Be What You Are
After
college, Eddie had bigger plans than Miami could
offer and decided to see what he could do in New
York City. Landing the drumming spot with Daryl
Hall and John Oates in 1974 was a great start.
When Eddie first joined them, Todd Rundgren had
just finished producing their "War
Babies" album. Eddie felt it would be great
to perform with artists who were just as inspiring
as Todd Rundgren. Eddie can be heard on the live
recordings from Hall & Oates' first appearance
in London that are included on the recently released
CD box set by Hall & Oates called "Do What
You Want, Be What You Are".
Touring with lifelong friend Stephen Dees promoting
his first record "Hip
Shot", and later with successful songwriter
Desmond Child soon followed. Both of these
artists created their music from truly inspired
musical souls. Believing in yourself and never
giving up are values they all shared.
After touring with Tony Carey, the light that kept Eddie inspired went out for
a while when his dad, Ellis, died. During that time Eddie never gave up, knowing
fate would deliver something out of the blue. The invitation to play drums for
The Monkees' 20th Anniversary Tour was just the thing to get Eddie back behind
the drums. He not only got to play drums for The Monkees but also The Grass Roots
and Gary Puckett. |
In 1990 “Lonesome” Dave
Peverett from Foghat called on Eddie to join “Lonesome” Dave's
Foghat along with other founding member Rod Price.
After three great years he joined up with Billy
Livesay to form “The Livesays”. He
worked closely with Billy on the “Little
Bit of Hurt” CD and the synergy between the
two is unmistakable. They have just released their
second CD "Rose Colored Glasses".
Eddie also had the pleasure
to play drums for great talents like Rick Derringer,
Tiger
Tiger and Brian Howe. Eddie is also the drummer
with the original Foghat bass player, Tony Stevens,
in "Slow Ride", along with Billy Livesay
and Tommy Hall. He also plays drums for an original
project with Fernando
Perdomo under the name "Dreaming
in Stereo" on Fernando's independent label "Forward
Motion Records." |
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Never Give
Up
Eddie never gave up that good things were coming, even
if there wasn't a single sign of anything on the horizon.
He had always lived life at the ready. So just stay prepared,
keep your spirits up, believe that something's coming
and never give up. If you quit, you'll surely never get
what you're after. But if you keep believing in yourself,
even when others have long given up, you'll always have
a chance. Even after Eddie finally got to perform with
Todd, he still has that hotel room key and continues
to live by the words on it, "Stay Inspired".
Eddie Zyne endorses:
Pearl Drums
http://www.pearldrum.com/artists/all-artists.aspx?id=102
Sabian Cymbals
http://www.sabian.com/en/
Links:
http://www.youtube.com/ezyne
https://www.facebook.com/EddieZyne
http://thelivesaysmusic.com/fr_eddiezyne.cfm
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